Improvement in sap-buckets



tieni CHARLES C. POS'ILOF HINES BURG, VERMONT.

Letters-'Patent No. 107,407, dated September 13, 1870.

IMPRQVEMENT IN SAP-Boosters.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patient and making part of thesame.

-HOW To all whom it may concern.- l

Bc it known that I, CHARLES O. Posr, of Hinesbmg, in the county ofChittenden and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and usefulImprovement in Sap-Buckets, for the purpose of adjusting and securingthe same in a level position; and the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing making a part of this specification, in which- .Figure 1represents my inventioirattached to the tree, showing the indented sideof the bucket.

Figure 2 represents a device to be attached to the bottom of the bucket,as anA auxiliary for said purpose.

Figure 3 shows a modification of the device, to efv feet the samepurpose.

Figure 4 represents an adjustable block, designed to hang between thebucket and the tree, to secure the same object.

The object of my invention .is-

First, to secure the sapfbuckct to the tree in a l10- rzontal position,so that the weight ofthe sap within the bucket shall not cause the sameto incline, and so that it shall not spill over one edge before thebucket is entirely full; and

Second, to construct tapering buckets, which will pack conveniently fortransportation and, at the same time, secure the main object of myinvention.

My invention consistsv v First, in forming a taper bucket with anindented side, perpendicular to the bottom, as shown in fig. l.; and

Second, in adjustable devices, attached to the bottom or side of anordinary taper bucket, to hold it in a horizontal posit-ion whensuspended from the sapspout, or otherwise, against the side of the tree.

The buckets in o rdinary use, among the makers of maple-sugar, areeither ordinary taper buckets, each provided with an ear on one side,-or an equivalent means for suspending it, or they are made cylindrical,

and similarly provided with means for suspension.

It will be readily perceived that the iirs't mentioned of these formswill, when suspended against they side of a tree, incline forward, sothat the upper edge will not be so high upon one side as the other--inother words, the bucket will not hang level, and, with both the taperand cylindrical forms, the bucket will bc more or less free to swingfrom side to side, if exposed to the inuence of the wind, or otherdisturbing causes. \Vhen the bucket is not level, it is apparent that itwill not retain its full quantity of sap, as thc same will begin tospill over the depressed edge before the full quantity hasbeen'rcceived. When the buckets are made cylindrical, they cannot beconveniently packed for transportation, because one bucket eanno beinserted within another.

My invention obviatesthe above-mentioned objections to the buckets nowin use, andthat others mayv fully understand it, I will describeparticularly the mode `of construction and yoperation which I prefer toadopt. A

In iig. l A represents a taper bucket, with one side indented, as at l),suiiiciently toI become about perpendicular to the bottom A. Ordinarilyand preferably this indentation presents a concave surface, whichconforms, more or less nearly, to the curvature of the side of the tree,and the extremities of said concave sur'- face, being in contact withthe back of the tree, effectnally prevent anyswinging toward one side,under the iniluenee of the wind orotber slight accidental idisturbances.

In manufacturing these buckets it is found economical to make the sidein three pieces, and to make the indented side somewhat higher than theremaining edges, so that a hole, a, may be perforated, to lrcceivethehook B, or other means of suspension, above the level of theremaining edges. The bucket may. then be lled to the brim before any ofthe contents will escape, and it is'not necessary to attachan ear at theside, for insertion of the suspension-hook. When ready fortransportation, they may be packed in the most convenient manner, onebeing inserted within another, and this is a point ofgreat practicalimportance, especially to the user, as he Tis thereby enabled to handle,with the same labor, a milch larger number of buckets than would bepossiblc'if they were cylindrical.

In fig. 2 is shown a crescent-shaped plate, C, secured to the bottom ofan ordinary taper bucket by the pivot d. This plate may be turned andreversed, as shown in dotted lines, and its horns, c e, will then restagainst the side of the tree, and will support the bottom of the bucketin a horizontal position. This plate may be attached to buckets alreadyink use, and it affords great facilityfor adjustment when the treestands at an unusual inclination, so that the bucket is more or'lcssoblique to the axis of the tree. With the crescent-plate C attached, thebuckets may be packed in rests just as conveniently as without them.

In fig. 3 is shown a sliding arm or support, E, secured to the bottom ofthe bucket, fand, when in usc, may be projected beyond its edge, asshown in dotted lines. 'lheseare modiiications of my invent-ion,dcsigned particularly to bc applied to the ordinary taper buckets,.asnow in use.

In fig. 4 is represented still another modification of my invention fortheA samev purpose. It consists ot' wire, F, which may be attached tothc side of the bucket by a hook at its uppcrend, or it may be sccuredin position in some other convenient way.

An adjustable double concave block, G, is placed upon the wire F,and'may be free to slide up and down upon the saine. ,lhe block Ur isplaced between the tree and the 'ordinary taper' bucket A, and can beraised and lowered as may be required to adjust the bucket inahorizontal position.

From the above description itI will-amical' that the principal object ofmy invention is to secure a taper bucket, which may be caused to hanglevel upon the side of a tree, and that my invention consists in meansto secure that object.

It will also appear evident that a greater or lesser degree ofindentation is immaterial, soflong as one portion of the side of thebucket, whose general form is conical, is made to be aboutperpendicular-to the b ottom, or so that the bucket, when suspended withsaid portion against ornext to the tree, the position of said bucket maybe level, or nearly so.

The adjustabe plate G or other adjusting-attachment may frequently beadvantageously attached to a bucket having the indented side 71, forthereason that trees sometimes stand at an unusual inclination, and thcindented side may not always be sufficientto level the bucket. Theadjustable plate or slide may then be employed as au auxiliary-support.

.Having described my invention audits object, \Vhat I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A taper or conical sap-bucket, provided with an indented side, b,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a conical sap-bucket, constructed as abovedescribed, the adjustable' crescentplate. C or slide E, or theirequivalent, for thc purpose herein shown and described. 1

CHARLES C. POST.

-iVitnesses:

Elm. F. Buowx, J. B. WOODRUFF.

